Good noise-cancelling headphones

[Captain Halliday]

I use Bose QC20 which are pretty good, not great at NC compared to over-ear, but pretty good. In-ear is also great for when sleeping on your side. I get a good 10-12 hours out of the battery for NC which is enough for a long flight and of course they are still usable as earphones when the battery runs out. And they are very compact and light compared to over-ear.

I think they are no longer made but you can pick them up on ebay or facebook marketplace.

I’m m also a side sleeper and have always assumed - perhaps wrongly - that in-ear headphones would be either uncomfortable, or be dislodged (and knowing my luck, lost)

As someone who seems to have used them, am I assuming wrong?

 

[stm1sydney]

I’m m also a side sleeper and have always assumed - perhaps wrongly - that in-ear headphones would be either uncomfortable, or be dislodged (and knowing my luck, lost)

As someone who seems to have used them, am I assuming wrong?

In my experience, yes. (And as these ones are wired, you won't lose them.)

 

[k_sheep]

I use Bose QC20 which are pretty good, not great at NC compared to over-ear, but pretty good. In-ear is also great for when sleeping on your side. I get a good 10-12 hours out of the battery for NC which is enough for a long flight and of course they are still usable as earphones when the battery runs out. And they are very compact and light compared to over-ear.

I think they are no longer made but you can pick them up on ebay or facebook marketplace.

Yeah Mr k_sheep has them. Exactly what I want. He's holding onto them though and not letting me steal them!

 

[stm1sydney]

Yeah Mr k_sheep has them. Exactly what I want. He's holding onto them though and not letting me steal them!

LOL, yes, I have had a pair for many years, and bought a clean near-new pair for my wife last year on FB marketplace, $100 I think, so there would be no arguments. If you are squeamish about a used pair having being in someone else's ears, you can buy replacement silicone tips on ebay.

 

[MDC]

I’m m also a side sleeper and have always assumed - perhaps wrongly - that in-ear headphones would be either uncomfortable, or be dislodged (and knowing my luck, lost)

As someone who seems to have used them, am I assuming wrong?

AirPods and similar fall out of my ears when side sleeping. The Beats Fit Pros don't because they have 'wings' that secure them in my ear. The comfort depends... sometimes I'm fine with it, other times not.

One upside is you can buy them from Apple and return within 2 weeks if they don't work for you.

 

[PaulyB]

I have a slightly (well very) left field question. I am not looking for NC headphones for flying but for thunder! I have a family member who really reacts badly to thunder and we have thought some good headphones may do the trick. I think they would have to be over the ears rather than earbuds. They don't need to specifically play music but it is always a bonus.

Most importantly they need to deal with loud sudden bangs.
Thanks!

 

[TheRealTMA]

I have a slightly (well very) left field question. I am not looking for NC headphones for flying but for thunder! I have a family member who really reacts badly to thunder and we have thought some good headphones may do the trick. I think they would have to be over the ears rather than earbuds. They don't need to specifically play music but it is always a bonus.

Most importantly they need to deal with loud sudden bangs.
Thanks!

Why not just good ear plugs?

 

[PaulyB]

Why not just good ear plugs?

It is a good question and there are a couple of reasons I am currently discounting it...
1. ear plugs so far haven't really done it. Even the mouldable ones that completely fill the ear don't block the loudest thunder.
2. Other in-ear plugs tend to be not comfortable/less effective etc....
3. My general understanding is that over-ear would do a better job

 

[Human]

I have a slightly (well very) left field question. I am not looking for NC headphones for flying but for thunder! I have a family member who really reacts badly to thunder and we have thought some good headphones may do the trick. I think they would have to be over the ears rather than earbuds. They don't need to specifically play music but it is always a bonus.

Most importantly they need to deal with loud sudden bangs.
Thanks!

You're probably already aware that noise cancelling headphones work best with constant, background noise (eg. aeroplane engines) rather than sudden, inconsistent noise (eg. thunder, people speaking).

Having said that, an over-ear, closed set of headphones (not earbuds or canalphones), playing music reasonably loudly (but at a safe level) during a thunderstorm, would normally do the trick fairly well.

I find that CNET's headphone reviews are reasonably helpful in at least helping you to get a picture of what's available. Do your own research, and your family member should trust their own ears in terms of what they like, but the following article is as good a place as any to start.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-noise-canceling-headphones/

 

[PaulyB]

I find that CNET's headphone reviews are reasonably helpful in at least helping you to get a picture of what's available. Do your own research, and your family member should trust their own ears in terms of what they like, but the following article is as good a place as any to start.

That is really useful. Thank you! Yes! you are right in all the assumptions and the music also has played a good role, although not from within the headphones. . It's quite an issue for her and can seriously stress her out. To be continued...

 

[elanshin]

Im currently using a mix of my older WH1000-XM3 ( i see no reason to replace them) and google buds pro . My XM3s have been trusty and does an excellent job, but ive increasingly left them at home.

For domestic hops i now just have the google buds pro.
The GBP have a fairly good ANC and I can sleep with them in. They also have excellent call quality (my partner can't hear me driving in a van) and seemless Multi device switching.

Long Int'l i still bring the XM3s and the GBP.

 

[gaz0303]

Anyone have thoughts on the Bose QuietComfort 45 SE vs Bose QuietComfort? $220 difference at JBHiFi. Only difference I can find is soft/hard case, 2hrs battery and multiple Bluetooth connections.

 

[Denali]

I posted on page 1 that with the Bose QC, Im actually shouting at my husband only metres away and he cant hear me. These give amazing noise cancellation - I love them

 

[qaz]

Anyone have thoughts on the Bose QuietComfort 45 SE vs Bose QuietComfort? $220 difference at JBHiFi. Only difference I can find is soft/hard case, 2hrs battery and multiple Bluetooth connections.

also latter has wind reduction, adjustable noise cancellation?

 

[qaz]

Anyone have thoughts on the Bose QuietComfort 45 SE vs Bose QuietComfort? $220 difference at JBHiFi. Only difference I can find is soft/hard case, 2hrs battery and multiple Bluetooth connections.

Bose QuietComfort 45 SE Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black) $164 ($147.60 for Perks) + Delivery ($0 C&C/ in-Store) @ JB Hi-Fi

Deal: Bose QuietComfort 45 SE Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black) $164 ($147.60 for Perks) + Delivery ($0 C&C/ in-Store) @ JB Hi-Fi, Store: JB Hi-Fi, Category: Electrical & Electronics

www.ozbargain.com.au

 

[33kft]

I won't be buying Sony again. Saw a lot of good reviews for the XM3s and bought them a few years back, they lasted just a tick over the warranty period (12 months) and then stopped cutting off charging when the battery was full (the red light would remain on constantly). Instead they charged forever, but started going quickly backwards in capacity at 100% so timing it so they were fully charged was nearly impossible.

I did a battery replacement, it didn't fix things so I junked them.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I won't be buying Sony again. Saw a lot of good reviews for the XM3s and bought them a few years back, they lasted just a tick over the warranty period (12 months) and then stopped cutting off charging when the battery was full (the red light would remain on constantly). Instead they charged forever, but started going quickly backwards in capacity at 100% so timing it so they were fully charged was nearly impossible.

I did a battery replacement, it didn't fix things so I junked them.

POI: Did you put in a complaint and warranty request to Sony? Given the price of the headphones, you may well have a claim under Australian consumer law even though it maybe just outside the "stated" warranty.